Aglaonema plant named ‘TWYAG0018’

ABSTRACT

A new  Aglaonema  plant particularly distinguished by having foliage that is dark green and suffused with small coalescing yellow-green spots and blotches, areas adjacent to the midrib often marked with yellow-green, primary veins that are variably tinged with pink, a midrib that is pink throughout, a very dense, leafy, compact plant habit, intermediate in stature and having greyed-orange and orange-white spathes tinged with yellow-green and with light pink apices, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Aglaonema hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘TWYAG0018’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name as ‘TWYAG0018’. The new varietyoriginated from an open pollination made in Bogor, West Java, Indonesiabetween unknown individual plants of Aglaonema (species unknown). Thenew variety was discovered as a single plant within the progeny of thestated open pollination in a controlled environment in Bogor, West Java,Indonesia.

The new variety was created in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia and has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Apopka, Fla.for two or more generations. The present invention has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Apopka, Fla.

-   -   1. Foliage is dark green and suffused with small coalescing        yellow-green spots and blotches;    -   2. Areas adjacent to the midrib are often marked with        yellow-green;    -   3. Primary veins are variably tinged with pink and the midrib is        pink througout;    -   4. Very dense, leafy, compact plant habit and intermediate in        stature; and    -   5. Greyed-orange and orange-white spathes tinged with        yellow-green and with light pink apices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Aglaonema plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the overall plant habit. The colors shown are as true as canbe reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotograph is of an 18-month old plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘TWYAG0018’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inApopka, Fla. The plant history was taken in January 2007 on 18 month-oldplants started from a single four-leaf rooted cutting, still in avegetative state and grown in Apopka, Fla. Rooted cuttings were plantedin 20 cm pots and grown in a greenhouse. The plants were pinched twice.Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references areprimarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Societyof London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Araceae.        -   Botanical.—Aglaonema hybrida.        -   Common.—Chinese Evergreen.-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Symmetrical; wider than tall; new leaves are held            upright and mature leaves are held outward.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Very dense, leafy and compact;            upright and branched growth habit and intermediate in            stature.        -   Height (from soil to top of leaf plane).—30 cm to 34 cm.        -   Diameter (area of spread, as measured from leaf tip to leaf            tip across the canopy).—58 cm to 64 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Typical of commercial Aglaonema varieties.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous; plants produce axillary branches and            numerous leaves.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 18 months            starting from a single 4-leaf rooted cutting with the plants            pinched twice in 20 cm pots.        -   Root description.—Abundant, fleshy and white with finer            lateral branches.        -   Number of divisions or clumps per year.—About eight 4-leaf            cuttings per year.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Foliage holds up well            against damage from shipping and handling; plants are            durable and have excellent indoor keeping quality.        -   High temperature tolerance.—About 104° F. (for several hours            without damage.        -   Low temperature tolerance.—About 55° F. for several hours            without damage.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—About 27.        -   Type of branching.—Basal.        -   Length (from soil line to junction of the newest two            leaves).—12 cm.        -   Diameter (measured 3 cm above the soil line).—1.2 cm.        -   Internode length (measured 3 cm above the soil line).—1.0 cm            to 2.2 cm.        -   Color.—Immature: Between RHS 159C to RHS 159D and tinged            with RHS 49D. Mature: Between RHS 165C to RHS 165D. Oldest            stems: RHS 161D and tinged with RHS 165D.        -   Shape and appearance.—Columnar, cylindrical and upright.        -   Aspect.—Vertical and upright.        -   Strength.—Sturdy and somewhat flexible.        -   Axillary buds.—Shape: Elliptic, flat to convex. Length:            0.5 cm. Width: 0.4 cm. Color: RHS 165C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and simple; the leaves are arranged            in a spiral along the stem; the leaf blade folds upward            along the midrib.        -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—8.        -   Immature leaf (newly expanded leaf).—Color: Upper surface:            Base color is between RHS 146A to RHS 147A; the leaf blade            is variably suffused with small RHS 145D and RHS 150D            coalescing spots and blotches; areas adjacent to the midrib            are RHS 145D and RHS 150D. Lower surface: Base color is            between RHS N189A to RHS 147A and is tinged with colors            between RHS 181B to RHS 181C; the upper surface patterns and            markings are visible through to the lower surface of the            leaf; the leaf blade is variably suffused with small            coalescing spots and blotches between RHS 181B to RHS 181C;            areas adjacent to the midrib are RHS 181C and tinged with            RHS 50C.        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: Base color is RHS 147A            and the leaf blade is variably suffused with small            coalescing spots and blotches between RHS 145D and RHS 150D            (yellow-green); areas adjacent to the midrib are RHS 145D to            RHS 150D. Lower surface: Base color is between RHS N189A to            RHS 147A and is tinged with colors between RHS 181B to RHS            181C; the upper surface patterns and markings are visible            through to the lower surface of the leaf; the leaf blade is            variably suffused with small coalescing blotches and spots            between RHS 181B to RHS 181C; areas adjacent to the midrib            are RHS 181C and tinged with colors between RHS 50C and RHS            48A.        -   Length.—15 cm to 19 cm.        -   Width.—Flattened: 12 cm to 15 cm. Not flattened: 11.5 cm to            13.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to round.        -   Apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate.        -   Base.—Cordate to somewhat obtuse.        -   Margin.—Smooth and entire with some broad undulations.        -   Appearance.—Smooth; new leaves are shiny and mature leaves            are glossy; the leaf blade is convex between the main veins            and puckered along the midrib resulting in a textured            appearance.        -   Pubescence (on both surfaces).—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Immature leaf (newly expanded leaf): Upper            surface: Primary veins: RHS 55D. Midrib: RHS 54D. Lower            surface: Primary veins: Between RHS 49A to RHS 49B and RHS            180D Midrib: Between RHS 48C to RHS 48D Mature leaf: Upper            surface: Primary veins: Between RHS 51C to RHS 51D Midrib:            Between RHS 53C to RHS 53D. Lower surface: Primary veins:            Between RHS 51C to RHS 51D Midrib: Between RHS 51C to RHS            51D.-   Petioles:    -   -   Aspect.—Vertical and upright when newly expanded and            becoming curved outward to about 30 degrees to 45 degrees            with maturity.        -   Length.—8.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Distal: 0.45 cm. Proximal (petiole and petiole            sheath clasps the stem proximally): Flattened: 2.7 cm. Not            flattened: 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Color.—Distal (between the top of the wing and the base of            the leaf): RHS 54C tinged with RHS 54B. Proximal: RHS 54D            and streaked with RHS 54B. Areas adjacent to the stem: RHS            49D.        -   Wing.—Length: 7.2 cm. Diameter: Mid-point: 0.8 cm. Base:            1.2 cm. Depth: 1.0 cm. Color: Inside: RHS 49D. Outside: RHS            54D and streaked with RHS 54B. Area adjacent to the stem:            RHS 49D.        -   Cataphylls.—Length: 6.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate, two-keeled and translucent. Appearance: Inner            surface is smooth and shiny and outer surface is glossy.            Pubescence: Absent. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Clasps the stem.            Color: Inside and outside: the proximal end is between RHS            56C to RHS 56D and the distal end is RHS 50C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Appearance.—Hooded spathes surrounding a columnar spadix are            borne atop an upright peduncle; monoecious; the spadix is a            central column of sessile, simple male and female flowers            separated into two zones; the male flowers occupy the upper            three-fourths of the spadix while the female flowers occupy            the lower one-fourth of the spadix.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per stem.—About 3; each stem may            have more than one inflorescence.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—About 10.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Height (from base of peduncle to tip of spathe).—16 cm.        -   Diameter/width.—4.5 cm.        -   Flowering habit.—Seasonal; the natural flowering season is            fall and winter as observed in Apopka, Fla.; the flowers are            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Ratio of inflorescence to opening.—About 1 new flower every            10 to 14 days.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 9.5 cm. Diameter: 0.45 cm. Aspect:            Upright. Strength: Sturdy and flexible. Color: RHS 161D.-   Spathe:    -   -   Appearance.—Simple, hooded, cupped and enclosing the spadix;            inflorescences have two partially developed spathes or one            normal spathe enclosing the spadix; surface is smooth and            shiny.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Pubescence (on the surfaces).—Absent.        -   Size.—Length: 6.0 cm. Width: 2.2 cm (rolled).        -   Color (when opening).—Front side: RHS 161D and faintly            mottled with RHS 146D. Rear side: RHS N170D and faintly            mottled with RHS 146D.        -   Color (fully opened).—Front side: RHS 165D. Rear side: RHS            159A and tinged with RHS 144C and the apex is tinged with            RHS 49C.        -   Color (fading to).—RHS 199B.-   Spadix:    -   -   Appearance and shape.—Columnar.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Size.—Length: 3.9 cm. Diameter of the female zone: 0.9 cm.            Diameter of the male zone: 0.85 cm. Length of the female            zone: 0.8 cm. Length of the male zone: 2.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Pebbled.        -   Color.—Female zone (immature): RHS 4D. Male zone (immature):            RHS 155D and RHS 150D. Female zone (mature): RHS 158B and            RHS 160C. Male zone (mature): RHS 158C.-   Flowers:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Quantity of female flowers per spadix.—18.        -   Quantity of male flowers per spadix.—250.        -   Shape of female.—Ovate.        -   Shape of male.—Obovate, inverted triangle.        -   Size.—Female width: 0.2 cm. Male width: 0.15 cm. Female            height and depth: 0.2 cm. Male height and depth: 0.2 cm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Anther color.—Not observed.        -   Pollen amount.—Not observed.        -   Stigma color.—Between RHS 158B to RHS 160C.        -   Ovary color.—RHS 145D;-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of Aglaonema species; no    particular susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases noted.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN VARIETIES

‘TWYAG0018’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Key Largo’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 17,550) in that ‘TWYAG60018’ has broadly ovate to round leaves,while ‘Key Largo’ has oblong leaves. Additionally, ‘TWYAG0018’ hasyellow-green spots and blotches on the foliage, while ‘Key Largo’ hassilver colored flecks and spots on the foliage.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant as shown and describedherein.